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Prison Service gets $8M speedboat and engine.

  • May 22, 2024
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Prison Service gets $8M speedboat and engine



In efforts to further boost its services, a speedboat and 200-horsepower motors, was gifted to the Guyana Prison Service (GPS) on Wednesday.



During the handing over ceremony held at the Parika Police Station, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Legal Affairs, Adele Diane Tricia Cole-Clarke presented the speedboat and engine valued over $8 million to Director of Prisons, Nicklon Elliot.



The Permanent Secretary said the donation is part of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB)-funded Support for the Criminal Justice System (SCJS) programme, which was launched in Guyana to reduce overcrowding in prisons.



Further, the Permanent Secretary said the donation is to lend support to the plans of the prison service, since the service is a central part of the criminal justice system.



During his remarks, Elliot was confident that the addition of the new vessel will significantly boost the capacity and capabilities at the Mazaruni prison, especially as it relates to responding to emergencies and transporting prisoners to and from the prison, especially for medical attention.



Highlighting the IDB’s significant contributions to the Guyana Prison Service over the years, Project Manager of the Ministry of Legal Affairs, Indira Anandjit, thanked IDB for their commitment to enhancing equity, efficiency, and transparency within the Guyana’s Criminal Justice System.



In a recent development, the Guyana Prison Service (GPS) received over $30 million worth of information and communications technology (ICT) equipment under the Support for the SCJS programme. This included provisions for a new Mental Health Unit, the training of 60 Prison Officers in Mental, Neurological Disorder, and Substance Abuse Disorders First Responder Training programme, and other essential tools and equipment aimed at improving operational effectiveness.